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      Jude Bellingham is the OLDEST 19-year-old I’ve ever seen… he can dominate at World Cup for England, says Dortmund boss

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      BORUSSIA DORTMUND’S manager reckons he has helped to construct England’s midfield for the next decade as the World Cup approaches.Edin Terzic – who previously worked with Declan Rice at West Ham – has got Jude Bellingham banging in the goals in the Bundesliga.
      Dortmund’s boss says Jude Bellingham will have a ‘big impact’ at the World CupCredit: Rex
      Head coach Edin Terzic was very complimentary about his young England starCredit: AFP
      The Dortmund boss describes the maturing box-to-box Brummie Bellingham as the ‘oldest 19-year-old I’ve ever known’.
      The locals are purring about Bellingham’s emergence as a goalscoring midfielder – after the England man scored a double in Saturday’s 5-0 thrashing of Stuttgart to take his season’s tally to eight.
      Bellingham has netted four of those goals in the Champions League, including the opener at the Etihad last month, before former team-mate Erling Haaland’s late winner earned City a 2-1 victory.
      His conversion into a more attacking midfielder complements the more defensively-minded Rice, who made his West Ham debut when Terzic was assistant coach to boss Slaven Bilic.
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      Terzic, 39, said: “Borussia Dortmund is well known for developing talent. But Jude, at the age of 19… he’s like the oldest 19-year-old I’ve ever seen.
      “On and off the pitch we’re really happy he’s with us.
      “It’s a win-win situation. We are benefitting from having him and he appreciates that Borussia Dortmund is the right place for his development.
      “Jude will have a big impact not only against City but for the World Cup and for the rest of our season.
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      “For the English in the next ten years not only Jude but Declan Rice, who I was fortunate to work with at West Ham, will dominate the midfield positions for their national team. They are both very talented players.
      “I’m really happy with the way Jude is performing this season. It’s a different role, more attacking, entering the opposition box many times.
      “He’s got eight goals this season. This was the next step we spoke about when I chatted to him before the season.
      “I’m happy with the way he’s performing but his development is not finished yet, we still don’t know what his limits are.”
      Terzic was an assistant manager and technical director at Dortmund while Norwegian goal machine Haaland was scoring 86 goals in 89 appearances in two and a half years at the Westfalenstadion.
      Yet Haaland has even improved on that ratio since joining City and, like his pal Bellingham, he netted twice at the weekend – the Norwegian’s brace against Brighton taking him to 22 in 15 appearances for Pep Guardiola’s side.
      Jude will have a big impact not only against City but for the World Cup and for the rest of our season.Edin Terzic, on Jude Bellingham
      While City are already through to the Champions League knockout stage, and Dortmund are likely to join them, tonight’s clash will be a major ‘homecoming’ occasion for the hottest striker on the planet.
      And Terzic said: “After the game in Manchester, Pep Guardiola told me we played the same game as when we played City one and a half years ago – but I said ‘no that was when we had Erling’.
      “Then we knew that with one touch, he would score but now we don’t have that option, that’s not possible, and we have to find other ways.
      “We have only positive memories of Erling – he’s not only a brilliant player but a brilliant person in the training ground and dressing-room.
      “He enjoyed Dortmund and we saw that when he said goodbye to the club last season and when he saw us in Manchester a couple of weeks ago.
      “It was great for him to be in Dortmund and great for us to have him scoring goals. Now he’s scoring goals in a different shirt and we have to stop him from scoring goals.”
      The man tasked with stopping Haaland tonight is Dortmund keeper Gregor Kobel.
      The Swiss No 1 said: “It was really emotional saying goodbye to him but now I have to stop him.
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      “It’s the type of challenge you want as a goalkeeper. He was up for a challenge all the time in training and I hope we can continue this tomorrow.
      “He is incredibly fast and physical and has a great shot but I want to keep my goal empty. It’s a really big challenge for me and the boys in front of me but matches like these are the most special.” More

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      Man Utd and Liverpool have 55 HOURS less rest than Prem Big Six rivals as horror Xmas fixtures schedule revealed

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      MANCHESTER UNITED and Liverpool have been handed the tightest festive schedules of the Premier League’s big guns.Both northern giants will play three games in just seven days when the top flight returns after the World Cup.
      Jurgen Klopp and Erik ten Hag will not be looking forward to the Christmas fixturesCredit: PA
      Fans are ready for a festive feast of football… but some bosses won’t be too happy
      And top-four hopefuls United and Liverpool will have 55 hours less time between matches than Spurs following the Prem’s Christmas and New Year fixtures announcement.
      The Prem resumes on December 26, eight days after the World Cup final in Qatar, with Spurs facing Brentford in a lunchtime Boxing Day fixture.
      Arsenal kick off against West Ham later that day at 8pm while defending champs Manchester City have received an extra 48 hours of rest post-World Cup before facing Leeds.
      Both the Gunners and City play three games in 192 hours, 24 hours more than United and Liverpool.
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      Erik ten Hag’s side are at home to Nottingham Forest on December 27, then travel to Wolves on New Year’s Eve.
      The Red Devils will have just two clear days before a home match against Bournemouth on January 3 with an 8pm kick-off.
      Struggling Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp will be hoping his team’s fortunes improve in the second half of the season but the German has also been hit with three games in just 168 hours.
      The Reds play Aston Villa at 5.30pm on December 26, Leicester four days later and travel to Brentford for a teatime clash on January 2.
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      Chelsea and Tottenham have the advantage of more than a nine-day gap between the start and finish of their festive fixtures.
      Leeds have the shortest window between their three matches with just 167 hours and 45 minutes from their clash with City on December 28 at 8pm to their home showdown with West Ham on January 4 at 7.45pm.
      The Prem shuts down on November 13, with the World Cup starting a week later.
      Players will return at different times over December depending on how their countries progress. More

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      Shakhtar Donetsk chief calls for England’s opponents Iran to be kicked out of World Cup and replaced by Ukraine

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      IRAN should be booted from the World Cup and replaced by Ukraine, claims Shakhtar Donetsk CEO Sergei Palkin.The Middle Eastern country are set to kick off their campaign against Group B rivals England on November 21, before taking on Wales and the United States.
      Sergei Palkin wants Iran booted out of the World CupCredit: Getty
      Palkin, however, is leading calls for them to be removed from the competition, after Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky accused them of supplying drones to Russia.
      A statement from Palkin read: “Shakhtar Football Club calls on Fifa and the entire international community to immediately ban Iran’s national team from playing at the World Cup for the country’s direct participation in terrorist attacks on Ukrainians.
      “This will be a fair decision that should draw the attention of the whole world to a regime that kills its best people and helps kill Ukrainians.
      “The vacant place should be taken by the national team of Ukraine, which proved that it is worthy of participation in the mundial.
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      “With unequal conditions with other national teams during the play-offs, they played with their heart.
      “This decision is historically and sportingly justified. I urge everyone to join the pressure on the football bureaucracy.
      “It is enough to repeat the mistakes of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, hiding behind the empty thesis about the apolitically of sports.
      “Facilitating the participation of terrorists in the World Cup is politics. It’s time to put an end to such a policy.”
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      Ukraine were beaten by Wales in their World Cup qualifying play-off earlier this year.
      Zelensky, 44, revealed that seven Russian drones shot down in Ukraine were supplied by Iran.
      He responded by stripping Iran’s ambassador to Ukraine of his acceditation.
      Iran have also been accused of sending personnel to Crimea to assist with the deadly bombardment of Ukraine’s towns and cities with kamikaze drones.
      Campaigners have also intensified calls to ban Iran after more than 200 protesters were killed in a crackdown by the country’s religious morality police.
      Iran has been rocked by an uprising triggered when a student died in police custody after she was held for not wearing her headscarf correctly.
      Carlos Queiroz is set to lead Iran at the World CupCredit: AP More

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      England fans forced to fork out staggering £5,000 to watch Gareth Southgate’s side all the way to Qatar World Cup final

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      ENGLAND fans will be forced to pay at least £5,000 to follow the team to all the way to the World Cup final. The Football Supporters’ Association has slammed the Qatar tournament as “the most expensive World Cup ever” after calculating the total outlay for a fan at the tournament, as revealed by the Mirror.
      The Qatar World Cup has been branded the most expensive everCredit: Rex
      Fans will need to fork out at least £5,000 to follow all of England’s games if Gareth Southgate can guide the team to the finalCredit: AP
      The cheapest match ticket prices available to England fans who want to follow the Three Lions all the way to the final – if Gareth Southgate and Co make it – will cost £1,200.
      Return flights to the Arab state range from £800 to £1,100.
      Then for the very cheapest accommodation option available in budget apartments fans will need to fork out at least £75 per night, totalling up to £2,175 if going from England’s opener on November 21 up to the December 18 final.
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      And by the time the costs for amenities, transport, food and drink is tallied up the aggregate cost for the trip will go over £5,000.
      The FSA’s Ashley Brown said: “I think it probably has to be the most expensive World Cup ever.
      “The cheapest category of tickets were very difficult to come by.
      “If you have a few beers then those numbers will soon add up.”
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      Beer, which is usually only sold in licensed hotel restaurants and bars in the country, is expected to cost at least £12 in the capital city of Doha.
      Meanwhile, in stadiums beer will be available for just £6 – but the only choice will be non-alcoholic Budweiser Zero, while it can also only be drunk in designated areas.
      One such area – ran by Glastonbury organisers Arcadia – will allow fans to drink for up to 19 hours a day, though even this will cost £8 per pint and tickets will be at least £50 per day.
      However, “sobering tents” will also be in use by Qatari officials in a bid to crack down on boozy antics.
      England fans on the booze will need to watch their wallets with the high cost of beerCredit: Alamy
      There are fears over the quality of accommodation in QatarCredit: Dan Charity More

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      ‘Motivated again’ – Germany legend Joachim Low targeting return to management 18-months after leaving international role

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      JOACHIM LOW has signalled his desire to return to work over a year after leaving his post as Germany boss.The 62-year-old is sniffing out opportunities to get back into the game after taking an extended break following 15 years in his previous job.
      Joachim Low is looking to sniff out new opportunitiesCredit: Getty
      Low reached the pinnacle of football in 2014 when he guided his country to World Cup glory.
      But he handed the reins over to Hansi Flick after underwhelming in subsequent tournaments.
      His last match as a manager was the 2-0 Euro 2020 defeat to England last year.
      Low now finds himself hungry to return to the profession he loves… after he has attended the World Cup in Qatar as a fan.
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      Speaking to German publication Kicker, the coach said: “I already have the intention of taking on a task in football again.
      “The fun in this sport is too much for that.
      “I feel motivated again when I watch football now – that wasn’t the case for a few months.”
      He then added: “If I feel a task appeals to me, I’m ready and attack again.”
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      On the upcoming festival of football in Qatar, Low continued: “I would like to experience a World Cup on site as an outsider.
      “That’s why I haven’t gotten a job yet.”
      Low hasn’t worked in club management since a stint with Austria Wien during the 2003-04 season.
      Prior to that, he coached FC Frauenfeld, Stuttgart, Fenerbahce, Karlsruher, Adanaspor and Tirol Innsbruck.
      Low then assisted Jurgen Klinsmann as Germany boss between 2004 and 2006, before landing the top job himself.
      Low, 62, hasn’t coached since losing to England at Euro 2020Credit: Getty More

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      England’s World Cup Wags plan mega bling holiday to Qatar – including camel racing

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      ENGLAND’S Wags aim to have a ball and shop for bling in Qatar while their fellas try to win the World Cup there.The players’ partners have already eyed up a £40,000-a-night stay at the Ritz-Carlton’s five-star Sharq Village and Spa in Doha.
      The Wags, including Sasha Attwood, plan to watch camels race on the sands
      Sasha is the glamorous girlfriend of England’s Jack GrealishCredit: Getty
      Other Three Lions family members will be holed up at the five-star Marsa Malaz KempinskiCredit: KEMPINSKI
      Up to ten aim to share its Royal Villa with ocean views, a chef’s kitchen and 24-hour butler service.
      Spa treatments include a £170 stress relief massage, should the Three Lions be taken to penalties, and a £400 facial to ease tension.
      The Wags — including Harry Maguire’s wife Fern, Jordan ­Pickford’s missus Megan, Kyle Walker’s other half Annie, Jack Grealish’s girlfriend Sasha Attwood and Declan Rice’s partner Lauren Fryer — also plan to watch camels race on the sands.
      A planned trip to Pearl Island will include visiting high end jewellery and clothing outlets.
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      A source said: “They want to see everything Doha has to offer. They’re excited about going and want to make the most of it.
      “They are going to behave themselves but this is going to be a no expense spared trip of a lifetime for them all.”
      The Wags will be staying on a £1billion cruise liner during the tournament — with other family members holed up at the five-star Marsa Malaz Kempinski.
      Their secret plans emerged after a presentation by the Football Association warned them to be on their best behaviour in Qatar where rules are strict.
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      They were told that in public they must “dress modestly” and avoid displays of affection.
      They must not drink alcohol or swear in public, play loud music, sing, shout or act “inappropriately” during prayer calls.
      The FA delivered the non- negotiable rules at a secret ­presentation ahead of England’s 3-3 draw with Germany at Wembley last month.
      England boss Gareth Southgate is expected to name his World Cup squad in the coming days.
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      His side are among the pre-tournament favourites.
      The Three Lions’ first group match will be against Iran in Doha on November 21 — the day after the tournament starts. More

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      England ace John Stones is expecting a World Cup baby with pregnant girlfriend

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      ENGLAND ace John Stones is expecting a World Cup baby with his entrepreneur girlfriend.The Man City centre-back, 28, is expected to be named in the Three Lions squad for Qatar.
      A source said nothing would top the birth of their child, but winning the World Cup would be a way to celebrate
      It’s unlikely that Stones’s girlfriend will fly to Qatar, but he could be given permission to fly back for the birthCredit: PA
      And he could be lifting more than the Jules Rimet trophy if Gareth Southgate’s boys win it.
      Stones’ partner, Olivia Naylor, 33 — who has just launched her children’s clothing brand, Moosh — is due to give birth to their first child together towards the end of December.
      A source said: “They’re over the moon.
      “Family means the world to them. They always wanted children together and so this is incredibly special.
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      “Nothing will top the birth of his children — but winning the World Cup would be some way to celebrate.”
      Southgate is set to shortly name his 26-man squad for Qatar.
      Their first match will be against Iran on November 21 in Doha — the day after the tournament starts.
      And the final will take place on December 18.
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      It is unlikely Olivia will travel to Qatar to watch Stones.
      But he could be given permission to fly home for the birth — as Fabian Delph was with his wife during the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
      Stones began dating Olivia months after that tournament.
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      Arsenal verdict: Ben White could be England’s right-back solution as Gunners star maintains superb form in Saints draw

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      GARETH SOUTHGATE will be finding it harder and harder to ignore Ben White.The Arsenal defender, 25, was left out of England’s squad for their Nations League games against Italy and Germany last month.
      White was impressive again for Arsenal against Southampton on Sunday afternoonCredit: PA
      Since then, Chelsea man Reece James has joined Kyle Walker on the sidelines and is now a major doubt for the World Cup.
      Trent Alexander-Arnold has been desperately struggling for form, with Kieran Trippier the only Three Lions star maintaining his level on the right side of a Premier League defence.
      There are fears England do not have the individual quality to line up with a back four, particularly given the issues around Harry Maguire and the unprovent nature of some of his replacements at international level.
      But White at right-back may well be the perfect compromise between a leaky four and a creatively wasteful five.
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      If there is a criticism you can level at England’s greatest manager since Sir Alf Ramsey – and there shouldn’t be – then it is that the style of football has not been particularly thrilling.
      That was all well and good when they were racking up the wins, but recent results have brought the concerned voices back to the fore.
      Many want to see an extra attacker in the team – whether that be Jude Bellingham alongside Declan Rice or switching to a back four and freeing up an additional space in midfield.
      White’s inclusion is one way of facilitating that.
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      His previous four England caps have all come as part of a back three.
      But Takehio Tomiyasu’s fitness issues at the start of this season have seen him become Arsenal’s first-choice right-back.
      And he is showing himself to be a dab hand in the position.
      The former Brighton man has started all 11 of Arsenal’s league matches and is fast becoming one of the first names on the team sheet.
      And he offers something each of the other England hopefuls do not.
      What sets him apart from James is White plays as part of a back four every week.
      He also has experience in a centre-back partnership – something which could come in handy if Southgate wants to change formation mid-game.
      That is a facet Trippier, Walker and Alexander-Arnold do not have in their arsenal, while his defending ability already puts him ahead of the Liverpool man in the queue for a spot in a back four.
      And his attacking output is also starting to catch the eye.
      If Southgate is concerned putting White at right-back would negate England’s width going forward, then he needn’t worry.
      The Arsenal man produced an inch-perfect cross for Granit Xhaka to dispatch and set the Gunners on their way.
      Arteta’s side did end up relinquishing the lead in the second period as Stuart Armstrong earned Southampton a point.
      But it would be harsh to pin that goal on White – who was acting as a covering centre-half and was exposed by Gabriel getting drawn to the ball.
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      His versatility could prove crucial if we want to avoid Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, Jack Grealish and Marcus Rashford all sitting on the bench.
      But it remains to be seen whether his run for a place in Qatar has come a little too late. More